As a final activity under the C-SERMS Phase I Project funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The keynote address was delivered by Minister with responsibility for Energy in Barbados, Senator the Hon. Darcy Boyce. Other speakers at the event included, H.E. Mr. Stefan Schlüter, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Port of Spain and Mr. Christiaan Gischler, Senior Energy Specialist, IDB.
In his keynote address, Sen. the Hon. Darcy Boyce stated that the targeted 29% renewable energy contribution to total electricity generation by 2029, as recommended by the fairly recent Sustainable Energy Framework for Barbados will be achieved much sooner, perhaps as early as 2017.
He also stated that international oil prices over the last few years and projections for the medium term have indicated that the days of cheap oil are over. He posited that the region’s interest in this initiative will now be sustained, as evidenced by your presence and enthusiasm shown thus far in the pursuit of this initiative.
The IDB Representative commended the CARICOM Energy Programme for the efficient execution of the project within its timeframe and budget. He acknowledged the C-SERMS framework as a best practice and expressed the willingness of the Bank to seek to provide additional funding in collaboration with other Partners to support the second phase of the C-SERMS which targets implementation. Other Partners and organizations represented at the Forum included: Agencia de la GIZ Caribe Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Carbon War Room (CWR), Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC ), Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme (CREDP/GIZ), Department for International Development (DFID Caribbean), Government of New Zealand, Government of Spain, United States Department of Energy (US DOE), Embassy of Spain, Embassy of the United States of America, Latin American Energy Organisation (OLADE), OAS Secretariat, OECS Secretariat, Inter-American Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centre (UNFCCC RCC) and the University of the West Indies (UWI).
At the Forum, a range of project profiles were presented for funding. The Forum also received a presentation from Worldwatch Institute which was commended by the Programme Manager, Energy on the quality of work produced under the Project and for the methodology utilised for establishing RE targets for the Region. It was noted that CARICOM is the second region to have established regional energy targets, the first being the European Union.
The C-SERMS Phase I Project has concluded. The CARICOM Secretariat thanks the IDB for the grant funding provided and also the Project Manager, Sandra Britton, for her successful management of the Project towards achievement of its objectives.
